Cavaliers 119, Magic 108: Cavs win third straight

Cleveland Cavaliers' Wayne Ellington (21) celebrates with Marreese Speights after a dunk against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in Cleveland. Ellington scored 14 points off the bench in the Cavaliers' 119-108 win. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

They are 11-11 in their last 22 games since Dec. 22. They have also won three in a row, as well as seven of their last 10.

Yet, Coach Byron Scott didn't seem overly impressed after the Cavs held off the pesky Orlando Magic, 119-108, on Friday before an announced crowd of 14,073 at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavs snapped a 10-game losing streak to Orlando.

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"My expectations for us are higher than 11-11," Scott said. "We are definitely making steps in the right direction. This is good. We're playing good basketball right now. We can play better.

"I'm used to winning. I want to win every night."

For a team that's now lost 12 in a row, the Magic were anything but an easy mark. They haven't won since Jan. 16, yet they didn't go down easy. Orlando trailed by just three points, 104-101, with 4 minutes to play.

Irving credited the Cavs' bench for its outstanding work. It outscored the Magic's bench, 51-15.

"It makes our jobs easier," he said. "Our second unit outweighs our starters (in experience) by a lot. It's a testament to them how well they are playing."

The two former Grizzlies, center Marreese Speights and guard Wayne Ellington, combined for 32 points. The 6-foot-10 Speights converted 12 of 12 from the foul line en route to 18 points and five rebounds. Ellington banged in 3 of 5 from behind the arc for 14 points.

"Our second unit did a good job of igniting everything," Scott said. "We have a great group of guys who are willing to give up a piece of their games for the good of the team. They know their role."